If you ask the average Christian if they want to be used by God, they will say, “Yes! Absolutely!” None of us wants to be mediocre Christians. At the end of our life, we don’t want to look back with regrets on missed opportunities and wasted potential. Instead, we want to hear God say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant!” (Matt. 25:21)
How can we become effective servants of God? First, we need to ensure that we are real Christians. A real Christian is one who has turned from their sins and believed on Jesus to pay for their sins. (Contact us at our prison ministries to learn more.) Next, we need to meet God’s qualifications for service.
Here are 3 requirements to being used by God.
1) Be available.
If you want God to use you, make yourself available for Him. When God asked, “Whom shall I send? and who will go for us?” the prophet Isaiah responded, “Here am I; send me.” (Isaiah 6:8) Because Isaiah was willing and available, God entrusted him with an important ministry, gave prophecies of Jesus through him, and used him to write one of the longest books in the Bible.
Too many Christians become distracted with worldly goals like income, career, and social status. They are “choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.” (Luke 8:14) If you want to be used of God, you need to make serving God your top priority. Actively look for opportunities to serve. If you’re part of our church in Prince Albert, ask the pastor how you can help out. Be available, and God will use you.
2) Be teachable.
If you want God to use you, learn to be teachable. Each of us is still learning, growing, and developing into the image of Christ. When you step out and start serving God, you will inevitably make a mistake somewhere. And your pastor, leader, or mentor will need to give you constructive criticism. When you receive criticism, here’s the best method for handling it:
-Listen carefully to everything the person has to say.
-Thank them sincerely and humbly.
-Search the Scriptures, and examine your life. If the criticism lines up with God’s Word, then make the necessary changes in your life.
Don’t be discouraged when you receive constructive criticism. Every successful servant of God has had to accept and learn from criticism. Coming from a godly pastor, a counsellor at our prison ministries, or a Christian leader, criticism is a very helpful tool. In fact, the Bible even tells us, “As an earring of gold, and an ornament of fine gold, so is a wise reprover [one who provides helpful criticism] upon an obedient ear.” (Proverbs 27:12)
3) Be faithful in little things.
When you begin a new career, you don’t get to start at the top. You wouldn’t want an pre-med student operating on your brain. Nor would you want a first-year engineering student building a $100,000 bridge. Instead, you have to start with little, seemingly unimportant tasks and demonstrate that you are committed and faithful.
Jesus put it this way, “He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.” (Luke 16:10) God is a wise investor. And He will only give you greater responsibilities if you’ve proven that you’re worthy of them.
Serving God is both a weighty responsibility and an incredible privilege. If you want to be used of God to do great and mighty things, learn to be available, be teachable, and be faithful.
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For more information, call (306) 940-9554 or email anchorofhopeheb@gmail.com
